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Navigating Your 401(k) Options After Leaving Patterson: What You Need to Know

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Healthcare Provider Update: Patterson offers medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, along with HSAs and FSAs. Employees benefit from a 401(k) plan, paid time off, and voluntary benefits like accident and hospital indemnity coverage. The company subsidizes approximately 75% of healthcare costs and provides legal and identity theft protection 9. Patterson With ACA premiums expected to surge, Pattersons subsidized healthcare and flexible coverage options help employees maintain affordable access to care. Click here to learn more

If you work for Patterson, it's imperative to consider one of the common threads of a mobile workforce. Many individuals who leave their job are faced with a decision about what to do with their 401(k) account.

Individuals have four choices with the 401(k) account they accrued at a previous employer.

Choice 1: Leave It with Your Previous Employer

For Patterson employees, you may choose to do nothing and leave your account in your previous employer’s 401(k) plan. However, if your account balance is under a certain amount, be aware that your ex-employer may elect to distribute the funds to you.

As an employee of Patterson, there may be reasons to keep your 401(k) with your previous employer —such as investments that are low cost or have limited availability outside of the plan. Other reasons are to maintain certain creditor protections that are unique to qualified retirement plans, or to retain the ability to borrow from it, if the plan allows for such loans to ex-employees.

The primary downside for Patterson employees are that individuals can become disconnected from the old account and pay less attention to the ongoing management of its investments.

Choice 2: Transfer to Your New Employer’s 401(k) Plan

Provided your current Patterson employer’s 401(k) accepts the transfer of assets from a pre-existing 401(k), you may want to consider moving these assets to your new plan.

The primary benefits to transferring are the convenience of consolidating your assets, retaining their strong creditor protections, and keeping them accessible via the plan’s loan feature.

If the new plan has a competitive investment menu, many individuals prefer to transfer their account and make a full break with their former employer.

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Choice 3: Roll Over Assets to a Traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

Another choice for those in Patterson is to roll assets over into a new or existing traditional IRA. It’s possible that a traditional IRA may provide some investment choices that may not exist in your new 401(k) plan.

The drawback to this approach may be less creditor protection and the loss of access to these funds via a 401(k) loan feature.

Remember, don’t feel rushed into making a decision. You have time to consider your choices and may want to seek professional guidance to answer any questions you may have.

Choice 4: Cash out the account

The last choice for those in Patterson is to simply cash out of the account. However, if you choose to cash out, you may be required to pay ordinary income tax on the balance plus a 10% early withdrawal penalty if you are under age 59½. In addition, employers may hold onto 20% of your account balance to prepay the taxes you’ll owe.

Think carefully before deciding to cash out a retirement plan. Aside from the costs of the early withdrawal penalty, there’s an additional opportunity cost in taking money out of an account that could potentially grow on a tax-deferred basis. For example, taking $10,000 out of a 401(k) instead of rolling over into an account earning an average of 8% in tax-deferred earnings could leave you $100,000 short after 30 years.

  •  In most circumstances, you must begin taking required minimum distributions from your 401(k) or other defined contribution plan in the year you turn 73. Withdrawals from your 401(k) or other defined contribution plans are taxed as ordinary income, and if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty.

 FINRA.org, 2022

  •  Those in Patterson must acknowledge how an unpaid 401(k) loan is deemed a distribution, subject to income taxes and a 10% tax penalty if the account owner is under 59½. If the account owner switches jobs or gets laid off, any outstanding 401(k) loan balance becomes due by the time the person files his or her federal tax return.
  •  For Patterson employees, in most circumstances, once you reach age 73, you must begin taking required minimum distributions from a Traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Withdrawals from Traditional IRAs are taxed as ordinary income and, if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty. You may continue to contribute to a Traditional IRA past age 70½ as long as you meet the earned-income requirement.
  •  This is a hypothetical example used for illustrative purposes only. It is not representative of any specific investment or combination of investments.

What is the primary purpose of Patterson's 401(k) Savings Plan?

The primary purpose of Patterson's 401(k) Savings Plan is to help employees save for retirement by providing a tax-advantaged way to invest a portion of their income.

How does Patterson match employee contributions to the 401(k) plan?

Patterson matches employee contributions to the 401(k) plan up to a certain percentage of their salary, enhancing the overall savings potential for employees.

When can employees at Patterson enroll in the 401(k) Savings Plan?

Employees at Patterson can enroll in the 401(k) Savings Plan during their initial onboarding period or during the annual open enrollment period.

What types of investment options are available in Patterson's 401(k) Savings Plan?

Patterson's 401(k) Savings Plan offers a variety of investment options, including mutual funds, target-date funds, and company stock.

Can employees at Patterson take loans against their 401(k) Savings Plan?

Yes, employees at Patterson may have the option to take loans against their 401(k) Savings Plan, subject to specific terms and conditions.

How can employees at Patterson access their 401(k) account information?

Employees at Patterson can access their 401(k) account information online through the plan's dedicated portal or by contacting the plan administrator.

What happens to the 401(k) Savings Plan if an employee leaves Patterson?

If an employee leaves Patterson, they have several options regarding their 401(k) Savings Plan, including rolling it over to another retirement account or leaving it in the plan.

Does Patterson offer a Roth 401(k) option within its Savings Plan?

Yes, Patterson offers a Roth 401(k) option, allowing employees to make after-tax contributions to their retirement savings.

Are there any fees associated with Patterson's 401(k) Savings Plan?

Yes, Patterson's 401(k) Savings Plan may have certain administrative fees, which are disclosed in the plan documents provided to employees.

How often can employees at Patterson change their contribution amounts to the 401(k) plan?

Employees at Patterson can change their contribution amounts to the 401(k) plan during the annual open enrollment period or at any time as permitted by the plan.

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For more information you can reach the plan administrator for Patterson at , ; or by calling them at .

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